S2 IS help for focusing

[acpsiddhartha]

hi,
I am having canon S2 IS. I am very much new with the camera.
I have seen some photos that focus on a particular object and the other objects around that are defocused and blurred. I don't find how to take that kind of photo. Somebody pls guide me.

Thanks
Siddhartha

[sando]

There are plenty of FAQ's about the place, it will also explain in the manual.

You want to look up 'Aperture' - 'Depth Of Field' - 'Bokeh'

[waussie]

F4 at max zoom in good sunlight. Smaller F number gives shallower depth of focus, take several shots as it's easy to have nothing in focus.

[sando]

As above:

f/3 = open aperture = blurred background

f/10 = almost closed aperture = focussed background

Hard to explain in simple terms, but it has to do with the rays of light hitting the sensor (or film!). Narrow aperture makes more rays of light hit the sensor, making more focus. Wide aperture makes more rays of light miss the sensor making more blurred.

[glenindy]

hi,
I am having canon S2 IS. I am very much new with the camera.
I have seen some photos that focus on a particular object and the other objects around that are defocused and blurred. I don't find how to take that kind of photo. Somebody pls guide me.

Thanks
Siddhartha

Don't forget a basic......focus lock. Press the shutter button lightly halfway for an instant to set the focus and then press the shutter button all the way. After you do it a few times, it becomes a habit.

[Cindi]

Another thing that helps with a blurred background is having a lot of distance between your subject and your background.

[acpsiddhartha]

Thanks a lot guys. I will try it.

Thanks again
siddhartha

[waussie]

Another thing that helps with a blurred background is having a lot of distance between your subject and your background.
Good point :)